Timer for a game



Oct. 5, 1937. A. GODEFROID TIMER FOR A GAME Filed June 16, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l a 4 c U 8 E m 39 42 57 s 1 was n I H 7 L% 40 3 //7 venton: 7- o lefml o Oct. 5, 1937. A. GODEFROID TIMER FOR A GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1933 r m I u I m m. m 0.,

Oct. 5, 1937. A. GODEFROID TIMER FOR A GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Filed June 16, 1933 IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIA Patented Oct. 5, 1937 2,095,030

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMER FOR A GAME Armand Godefroid, Berlin-Schoneberg, Germany Application June 16, 1933, Serial No. 676,199 In Germany June 18, 1932 3 Claims. (Cl. 161-17) This invention relates to games, and more parof the play. With the present game a new play ticularly to games in which a play-body is moved can only be commenced with, if the stop-watch towards a mark in a manner to require a certain had previously been set into zero position, whereskillfulness or ability on the part of the player. by the starting lever is again released permitting This invention is an improvement over my (30- a single actuation thereof. During the course 5 pending application 676,198 filed June 16, 1933. of the play the starting lever remains locked and Known games of this kind in which a playthe stop-watch can only be set into zero position body is moved towards a mark have heretofore subsequent to being stopped, the stopping being been connected with the great disadvantage that effected by the play-body when arriving in its they do not comply with the pre en -day de final position. The play-result is thus indicated 10 a d qu re en s re a ding egistration and and kept fixed until a new play is commenced measurement of the ime r q y the play r with, the indication being covered up by a glassin order to move the play-body from the start pane. .It may be noted that the play-body perto its final position. manently remains within the game.

An exact registration of different play results By constructing the game in the aforemenand a p per timin of the latter is now-a-days tioned manner all errors will be avoided and, in n r lly in use not only with p l stic c mb ts addition, any attempts of deception on the part and d ts, ut a o h a l other of a player are positively rendered impossible. exercises h vin p r in character. n games This invention is explained herein as applied using a ball other play-body eg g to a game consisting of a play-field, a play-body 20 time-measuri g devices have heretofore never freely movable on said field, and a freely movbeen used. In acc d ce With the P table pushing or guiding device for said play-body. requirements, therefore, an exact measuring of The invention, however, may also be used in conthe time Within which all p ayare nection with games other than that described tained are an important requisite, if the game herein and shown in the drawings. 25

shall be serious and permanently entertaining. I th d i The drawback connected with nown g s is Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of conavoided according to the present invention by structi f th game, providing astop-watch permitting an exact indi- Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section on the cation of the time during which the play-body line IIII, Fig. 3, 30 has moved on its way from the start to its final Fig. 3 a plan-view on Fig. 2 with the cover of position. By means of such a registration of time the game removed, said cover forming the playall errors, quarrels or disputes which may arise field of the game,

when playing with games of the ordinary kind Fig. 4- an enlarged vertical cross-section on the will be positively avoided, the use of an exactly line IVIV, Fig. 3, 35 working mechanical means of the nature of a Fig. 5 a section taken along the broken line time-piece rendering it possible to indicate and V-V-V, Fig. 4, register even the slightest differences between Fig. 5a a partial vertical section on the line play-results which appear to be alike if games Vct-Va-Va, Fig. 4,

of the ordinary kind are used. As. the per- Fig. 5b a partial plan view on Fig. 5a, 4 formance of said mechanical means is effected Fig. 6 a vertical cross section through another in the new game during the rolling motion of form of construction of the game, the play-body either by action of its starting Fig. 7 a section on the line VIIVII, Fig. 6,

force or by action of its weight or both, there is Fig. 8 a perspective view of a detail forming attained an automatic and consequently absopart of Fig. '7, 45 lutely reliable indication of the play-results. Figs. 9 and 10 are sections similar to that In accordance with the nature of the present shown in Fig. 7 in a different position of the parts invention provisions are made to insure regular of the game,

performance of the play. This is accomplished Fig. 11 is a partial section similar to the section according to the invention by causing the several shown in Fig. 6 in another different position of 50 7 parts of the registering device to operate in posithe parts,

tive dependence from one another, in such a Fig. 12 a section similar to that of Fig. 11 in a manner that said device will control the proper still other position of the parts, and sequence of the individual functions and posi- Fig. 13 a vertical section on the line XIIIXIII,

tively maintain this sequence during the course Fig. 12. 55

According to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the game consists of a casing l havinga cover constituting a playfield composed of individual fields 2, 3, l, 5 and 6. Intermediate said individual fields are provided slots 1 which are partly covered up by tongues 8. The start for the ball or play-body I 0 is indicated at 9. The mark or goal is of the form of a pocket I I provided with an aperture l I through which the play-body may fall.

Underneath the play-field are arranged a series of catching devices 3? for reception of the playbody which falls either through the aperture l l or through the slots 7. A running groove 38 is joined to each of said catching devices 3'lr A flap 59 is hinged to the under end of all the parallel grooves 38 as shown in Figs. Zand 5 upon an axis so, a lever M or the .like is fixedto said axis around a horizontal axis 49. The lever 4| has a lateral cam A!" (Fig. 5a, and 5b) which acts on a button ll of a stop-watch 52, thus stopping thelatter as soon as said flap.39 is 1'0- tated around said axis by action of the weight of aball or play-body It When rolling onto said flap. The length of the flap 39 is so dimensioned construction shown-is of the form of rotatable drum t? equipped with pockets 48 serving for the reception of the play-body is, said pockets being gutter 52 leading towards the start 9.

open at that side at which the play-body runs in (Figs. 4 and 5). A fixed wall to arranged beside the drum :2? closes up said'pockets 68. The wall 59, however, is provided at its upper portion with an outlet .55 and at its under portion with an inlet 5i for the play-bodies. The outlet is positioned in front of the end of an inclined The drum ll is mounted upon a'shaft 53'and may be rotated by means ,ofa ratchet-wheel 5t and a feeding pawl -56 mounted at the end of a displaceable pin 5'! provided witha pressure button. A fixed resilient locking pawl 59 is in enand 5b).

drum by a distance between two pockets 58 the gagement with a locking wheel 55 mounted on the shaft 53 to prevent backward rotation of said shaft. r

The shaft 53 of the drum l'lextends as far as to the stop-Watch 52 and is provided at its'extended end with a ratchet-wheel53 (Figsp l, 5a During each feeding motion of the wheel 53 by the lever 48 disengages the stopwatch 12 so that the latter is set in motion,-at the same time moving the flap 39 back into the position shown in full'lines in Fig. 5.

A pressurebutton 59, which serves in the usual manner for resetting the stop watch 52 to zero, is arranged on thestop Watch; the casing l'of the game has an opening 59" through which the button 55 is accessible.

.The mode of operation is as follows: Before commencing :the play one half of the pockets 48 on the drum Q? is filled with play bodies, for instance with play-balls ill, and the stop-watch 42 set to zero. The first player now presses the button on the pin 5?, thus rotatingthe drum 41 a distance between two pockets.

During rotation of the drum a play-ball ll] comes in front of the outlet 50 in the wall 49. By reason of the inclination of the bottom of the chamber shown in Fig. 4, the play-ball will run into the gutter 52 and arrive at the start 9 of the play-field.

Upon rotation of the drum the shaft 53 thereof has actuated the lever 4! to release the stopwatch 42 by means of the ratchet wheel 53', the lever 4| and the cam 6|", so that the watch will start running. Simultaneously therewith the flap 39 fixed upon the axis 40 is swung upward so that the ball l0 resting on the free end of said flap as shown in Fig. 5 may move along the gutter 45 through the aperture 5! in the wall 49 and arrive at a free pocket 48 in the drum 41.

Immediately upon arrival of the ball ii) at the .startJSthe player moves said ball I 0 on the playfield upward in direction towards the mark with the aid of a pushing or guiding device (not shown).

If the player succeeds in pushing the ball-for- Ward. as far as to the goal ll, said ball Will fall through the aperture ll provided underneath said goal onto the rearmost catching surface 31 and roll off the latter in the groove 38 appertaining thereto in forward direction as far as onto the flap 3%. The respective groove has the ordinal number 5 as shown in Fig. 1. The ball now by action of its weight depresses the flap 39 and runs onto the inclined surface 46. In this position the ball is kept fixed by the depressedflap 39 as indicated in Fig. 5 in dotted lines. If the flap 39 moves downward, the shaft it is rotated thereby stopping the stop-watch 42 by means of the lever in and the cam ii". The watch now I exactly indicates the'time which had been necessary for the ball to run from the drum M to the start 9, to be brought from the start as far as to the goal and to run down to the flap 38. As the time for the movement of the ball from the drum to the start and from the goal to the flap is always the same the indications of the stop watch show exactly the difference between the times necessary for the diverse players to carry the ball fromthe start to the goal.

If the ball should fall through slot 7 of the first row of slots, figured from the start 9, Fig. 1, the ball runs intoa groove 38 designated by the ordinal number -I.

In case the ball does not arrive at the goal II and falls through a slot 1, the stop-Watch 42 likewise indicates the sum of the time that had been needed by the player to carry the ball as far as to the respective slot 1 and of the constant time necessary for the movement of the ball from the drum 41 to the start 9 and from the slot 7 to the flap 39. After having ascertained the time and the number of the groove into which the ball has run, the stop-watch is set to zero by pressing the button 59', Fig. 1.

The ball kept by the flap 39 is released as soon 7 comprises the groove 36" which is present in the above described form of construction of the game as well as the flap 39" with the adjustable counter-poise 144", the shaft 45", the stop-watch 42", the window 43', and the feed-drum 41' on the shaft 53".

The drive for the feed drum 41" in the present case, however, is different from that shown in the above described form of construction of the new game. A lever 61 provided with a pressurebutton 65 and a coiled spring 66 engages the upper end of a vertical rod 88 which laterally carries a pin 69. At the under end of the rod 68 is provided a leaf-spring 10, a feeding pawl H being laterally associated therewith. Said pawl H engages with a ratchet-wheel 12 fast on the shaft 53 of the drum 41. A fixed resilient locking pawl 13 prevents backward rotation of said ratchet-wheel. The under end of the spring 10 is bent off in lateral direction to form a horizontal arm 14 co-operating with an arm 15 on the shaft 48.

The rod 68 carries near its upper end a laterally projecting nose 16 having an oblique under surface and is positioned within a slot 18 in the slide 11.

On the under side of the slide 11 there is a pin 19 engaged by a spring 68 fast on a member 8| which serves, both as a guide for the rod 68 and as a bearing for the shaft 53". The member 8! is equipped with a pawl 82 pressed upward by action of a spring 83.

The slide 11 has a further slot 84 through which extends a vertical rod 85. Fixed to the under end of said rod are two tongues 86 and 81 which, as shown in Fig. 8, are preferably made integral with each other.

Underneath the tongue 86 the shaft 48" carries a segment 88 having a radially directed incision 89. The shaft 48 further carries a preferably resilient arm 98 and co-operates with the balance wheel 9| of the stop-watch 42" as shown in Fig. 6.

Within the range of action of the tongue 81 is a lever 92 formed or carried by the end of a shaft 93. Said shaft carries a gutter 94 parallel to its axis, said gutter 94 corresponding to the groove 45 shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The gutter 94 has a lateral guide surface 95 by which the play-body l8' may be carried from the flap 39 towards the gutter 94. An arm 96 is provided on said guide surface 95, said arm pressing said guide surface upward by action of a spring 91.

The rod carries laterally a nose 98 having an oblique under surface and carrying an arm 99 extending as far as to the stop-watch 42". The rod 85 with the pressure button I08 at its upper end is pressed upward by a spring l8l.

The mode of operation is as follows: Fig. 6 shows the game with all of its parts in playing position, that is in that position in which a playbody is pushed by a player onto the play-field of the casing l. The rods 68 and 85 are locked and the nose [6 is positioned underneath the slide 11 so that the rod is prevented against being raised by the pressure button 65 and the lever 61. Underneath the rod 85 there is positioned a full portion of the segment 88 as shown in Fig. 7.

If upon completion of a play the ball IO depresses the flap 39", the shaft 40 with the segment 88 is rotated so that the slot 89 will come into position underneath the tongue 86. By this the rod 85 is unlocked as shown in Fig. 9.

If the button I88 is depressed after having ascertained the ordinal number of the groove 38 at which the play-body has arrived, as shown in Fig. 1, and after having ascertained the duration of the play, the game is again put into condition ready for playing. The parts will thus come into the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The tongue 8'! now depresses the lever 92 so that the shaft 93 is rotated. The groove 94 and the connecting track 95 are now tilted so that the ball 18" will no more be engaged by the flap 39, this condition being shown by the dash-dotted connecting track 95 in Fig. 9.

The lateral arm 89 on the rod 85 acting on the stop-watch will set the latter into zero-position. The slide 11 is moved towards the right by the nose 98 on the rod 85 and locked in this position by the pawl 82 as shown in Fig. 11. Upon releasing the pressure button l88 the rod 85 will again move upward.

If a new play is commenced the button 65 is depressed causing the rod 88 to be raised so that the nose 16 thereon will enter the slot I8 in the slide 11. The pin 89 now releases the pawl 82 as shown in Fig. 12 and the slide Tl may now be moved towards the left by the spring 80. At the end of this motion the slide is engaged by the nose 16 on the rod 68.

The feeding pawl H with the spring 10 rotates the ratchet-wheel 2'2 on the drum-shaft 53" a distance between two teeth. In consequence thereof a play-body falls out of the drum and now runs along the gutter 52 towards the start 9. The arm 14 of the spring 18 acts upon the lever 75, thereby rotating the shaft 48 with the result that the flap 39 is again raised to assume the position represented in full lines in Fig. 13. The lever 98 now releases the balance-wheel of the stop-watch 42" so that the latter is set again into operation. The parts new again assume the position shown in Figs. 6 and '7 which position is maintained until after completion of the play the ball which has fallen through the aperture l l' of the goal II or through one of the slots 1" runs onto the flap 39" and rotates theshaft 48".

I claim:

1. A timer for a game containing a play field with apertures, a play body to be pushed forward by a player and catching devicesfor said play body, said timer comprising a stop watch and a drum for said play body, a device adapted to release said stop watch and simultaneously said play body, a plurality of outlet grooves joined to said catching devices for the play body, a swingably mounted flap at the ends of said outlet grooves, an axis, said flap fixed upon said axis and adapted to be swung by the play body, a member fixed upon said axis, said member adapted to stop said stop watch.

2. A timer as claimed in claim 1, including a tiltable connecting track for the play-body under said flap, a pushing rod for said track, and a locking device for said pushing rod, said locking device being connected with said flap.

3. A timer as claimed in claim 1, including means for setting said stop-watch into zero position.

ARMAND GODEFROID. 

